Kelerdios Shadowblade
Father of Shadows, Patron Kelerdios Shadowblade
After hundreds of years, he is rarely talked about, but in his time Kelerdios Shadowblade, first Father of Shadows was well respected figure that the society of The Children had never expected.
Scandalous in his rise to power, yet uncontroversial with his politics; those on the know will evoke Kelerdios' name when criticizing the matriarchal structure of the drow society, as an example of male fit to rule. Was his success just a freak accident, or did he, indeed, prove that males of his society are fit enough to make their own decisions? Regardless of what one may answer, drow matrons of Mori'tarna would rather dismiss his legend, and let him be forgotten simply as a side note in their history.
Physical Description
Body Features
In his prime, Kelerdios was described as a very tall drow man with silver eyes, obsidian black skin and pearly white hair. He was broad-shouldered and had a handsome, angular face. Part of his skin was covered by black dragon scales, that were most prominent on his back and thighs.
Apparel & Accessories
Fashion and appearance were pretty much an obsession for Kelerdios, an obsession he might have inherited from his mother. Khal'thrine Shadowblade used to dress her son very elaborately and especially on the most important of events; she would dress him in dresses like a girl, to show her defiance against the social expectations and her adamance to make her son her heir.
Kelerdios would often dress as a female or an otherwise feminine style to any official occasion, wearing everything from makeup, dresses, heels, coiffures and well-manicured nails to blend into important matrons. He was interested in trends and also set many of them, always trying to look perfect. Some say that when fully styled, one had a hard time to tell him apart from matrons around him if you didn't know where to look.
In his free time, Kelerdios did dress in a more masculine way, though even then elaborately, still taking mush inspiration in women's fashion. He had insecurities about his legs and pronounced adam's apple, which didn't really fit his aesthetic. Thus he often wore high collars and long, flowy skirts or pants to cover what he saw as his flaws.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Kelerdios was the fifth child of Khal'thrine Shadowblade, and her only son. Before his birth, Khal'thrine had been proud mother of four daughters, Usvatyrr, Alyraum, Janeylae & Laryanna, who all died tragically before their time to sickness, and unfortunate battles while trying to protect the drow of Mori'tarna.
Khal'thrine was heartbroken for losing her daughters, and became obsessed to have another baby. After years of trying, Kelerdios was born in 23rd of Jul, the year 1564. He was partly covered with black dragon scales, the sign of the family's sorcerer heritage and preferred trait for the family's heirs. According to some sources, Khal'thrine became so obsessed about the child that she didn't even realise he was a boy, treating him like a daughter like she would have been subject to madness. However, sources more closer to her remember Khal'thrine's actions little differently.
"Journals written by Driss'lothyrr Shadowblade tell that matron Khal'thrine often pondered about the future of her son. While confident in public, she did often wonder if she had made the right decision.
As Khal'thrine had never had any sons, only daughters, she found herself puzzled about the Kelerdios' future. Due to the beliefs of the locals, drow men are viewed as less capable and unable to rule or decide for themselves. Thus, many around the Matron considered the freshly born baby boy as a failure or disappointment.
Khal'thrine, however, was unable to share the sentiment, relieved to have a child again. However, the thought that her offspring was unable to inherit felt strange to a mother who hadn't even truly thought of ever having any sons.
So, Khal'thrine drove those criticizing her son's sex away while focusing on adjusting to a thought of having a son. However, the longer she spent with her offspring, more attached to him, she got, and she started to teach the young boy just like she had with her daughters. Khal'thrine started to experiment and felt confident the young boy was just as bright and capable as her female offspring.
To show her disapproval to her critics, she started to dress her son as an heir, to clothes and dresses more fit to young girls than for small boys. This was found very shocking and scandalous, but Khal'thrine stayed in her decision, and started to cultivate her son as her successor.
Early years
Young Kelerdios was obedient, yet a stubborn child. Once he had set himself a goal, he found it hard to adjust them, better or for worse. He had a strong drive towards excellence, which with his mother's warning of male frailty and the suspicion of others for his capabilities made him goal-driven, perfectionistic, and constantly slightly agitated as he tried to live up to pressures that challenged him.
One of the most bitter people from Kelerdios' treatment was his own aunt Halasha, whom, with her daughter Vestnara had been most likely candidates to inherit the matron's seat without Khal'thrine's decision to make him her heir. There is a reason to suspect that Halasha with some other traditionalists were trying to disrupt Kelerdios' education when things took an unexpected turn.
According to family traditions and duties, Kelerdios started his training in Yanta Menohtar at age 17, in year 1581. During his next 42 years of training (until the year 1623), Kelerdios would often end up working with his cousin Vestnara, who was 40 years older than him. Vestnara had earned herself good position among the military, and would, first reluctantly, end up as a mentor for her cousin, and two started to form an unlikely partnership. Vestnara would train Kelerdios, and protect him and the family honour by standing by his side, while Kelerdios would appreciate his cousin's determination and wisdom.
Seeing the situation unfolding, matron Khal'thrine made a suggestion to her sister Halasha, and suggested that Kelerdios and Vestnara would be wed, as traditionally children belong to mother and mother's house.
With such union, Kelerdios' children would belong to the family, and if he would falter and be unfit to rule, Vestnara would take his place. Halasha was described first being sceptical about such proposition, but later agreed to the arrangement.
Kelerdios and Vestnara where married in year 1622, after few years of engagement. The marriage did not end all the critic, but it made the situation calm down for a good while. Both Kelerdios and Vestnara seemed satisfied with this arrangement.
"Politically, it [the marriage] was a bold, but also smart decision. There was very little to gain with instability and fighting inside the family. Matron Khal'thrine waned her son to rule, but didn't know how it would turn out - the marriage was like a safety net for both of the sisters as well as general populous."
Kelerdios proved to be well fit for a part of sorcerer-warrior, and he had inherited the abnormal height of the Shadowblade line, making him pretty much as tall as the women around him, if not even taller. He was well learned, and due to his unique circumstances, he became master of etiquette, so he could diplomatically avoid or at least soften the downfalls, his gender might bring to him. His character did win him some popularity, and eventually, he won the support of his aunts Halasha and Driss'lothyrr, to the dismay of his critics.
Somewhere between years 1620 and 1630, Kelerdios' mother started to suffer extreme symptoms of Memory shroud, and she fell in a vicious circle of highs and lows, being often sick. In year 1635, matron Khal'thrine Shadowblade passed away, and Kelerdion was named her official successor.
First years of rule
Kelerdios and Vestnara shared the responsibilities of rule during their marriage. One of the first things that the pair enacted as they raised to power was to make their aunt Driss'lothyrr as the head figure of Yanta Menohtar, while Halasha stayed as main advisor in matronal duties.
While history cannot agree on how romantic the relationship of the couple was, evidence suggests that at least on a platonic level, Kelerdios and Vestnara shared a strong bond. They were rather fond of one another, was it intellectually, affectionately, or simply because of the usefulness of the relationship. They had two daughters, Choarae in 1642 and Xurniara in 1657.
Couple took a rather conservative stance on the matters of rule, and filled their responsibilities for their people, as well as Mother of Moonlight, choosing to alter which one of them did the diplomatic affairs depending on did the person they were speaking to recognise Kelerdios' position. However, Kelerdios' unique approach and appearance seemed to gather some sympathy from the citizens of Netehdrez, and he steadily became more popular, or at least more accepted. He was maybe more lenient towards males than his contemporaries, yet he didn't actively favour them in any way, to the dismay of those that wished for more radical change and those of his critics who would have loved to use such actions to excuse to strip him from power.
Vestnara Shadowblade was still seen as the true power behind her husband, but on 1685, member of the family took part of a defensive attack towards an illithid colony that had been terrorising the Drow of Mori'tarna, and Vestnara Shadowblade received several injuries and died soon after. Kelerdios and the house Shadowblade were left in mourning, as Kelerdios lost his most trusted supporter.
Father of Shadows
After the tragic end of Vestnara, Kelerdios' right to rule came once again in question. Choarae, heir to the couple was still too young to claim power, and discussions were had around to topic in Kelerdios should get married to another relative, or should one of the relatives take his place.
Kelerdious surprised everyone by openly rejecting the notion of marrying so soon, as well as showing his displeasure on the thought of resigning. As even bigger shock was, that his aunt Halasha supported the idea of him keeping his position, though her motivations can only be speculated.
While there were several plots to get Kelerdios away from his seat, he managed to keep his ground and won many allies to his side. Disgruntled, critics let him have his reign, watching vigilantly his every move to find that one mistake to overthrow him.
"My wife - sister of my soul - died a hero's death, and you are already plotting to take away her legacy like filthy spiders. Is this truly the way of the Dancer?"
Kelerdios' rule was mainly peaceful, and he proved himself both capable warrior as a talented diplomat. His most upsetting feature for his critics was that both he and some of his supporters seem to entirely forget they were actually a man. And that might have been the most terrifying feature of him, overall; other than his physicality, Kelerdios wasn't really that different from any Mother of Shadows that had come before him. He discussed trade deals, reinforced tunnels, he didn't defy the Great Matron Council of Mori'tarna or bring a era of despair. He seemed like just another drow matron.
On the year 1857, Kelerdios finally remarried. He was wed with Xineirith Bonebreath, long time ally from middle class family that was ready to give up her family name to become part of house Shadowblade. They had 4 children, daughters Sinaerie, Telanaeth, and Vlondra, as well as Kelerdios' only son, Sharlenti. Kelerdios finally retired from his position in the age of 412, in the year 1976, and his eldest daughter Choarae Shadowblade became the new Mother of Moonlight as Kelerdios stepped in to position of advisor.
Late Career
Late in his life, Kelerdios had duties for Yanta Menohtar, to his matron daughter Choarae, and specially in his very last years he used to train and teach his younger children and grandchildren. As a tribute to his father, Choarae whom always had been very close to her father, made her firstborn, her son Tatherdasan as her heir, and refused to change her decision even after having her first daughter.
Kelerdios died in 2121, surrounded by his family.
Accomplishments & Achievements
The exact list of Kelerdios' achievements is hard to find, as evidence suggests that both his critics and supporters have tried to either downplay or bolster his achievements to fit their personal narratives. However, there are a few things that sources can agree on.
The first great father among the great mothers
While few families had been under unfortunate circumstances been lead by men, Kelerdios was the most high ranking man to ever do so in the history of Mori'tarna. Shockingly, he was quite successful during his rule and managed to choose his own retirement. He gathered quite a bit of respect from his subjects, and while the current generations are tied lipped about him, they cannot fully deny his achievement.
After establishing concept of sainthood, matron Trielvaraya Shadowblade, Kelerdios' granddaughter, added her grandfather's name to list of drow men that had, according to her, earned their sainthood. As the concept of sainthood was to become another way to insidiously oppress the drow men, it is unsure how Kelerdios would have reacted to this news, if he would have lived long enough to see it.
The unexpected fashion icon
Thing Kelerdios is most famous for is his effect on the local fashion. As his mother dressed him like a girl since young age, after initial shock it very much become given that Kelerdios dressed like a woman in most occasions. As a matriarchal culture, all fashion that has association to power in his culture would display prominent feminine features.
This was not much of a problem when Kelerdios was small: due to his height that rivalled the ladies of his age he was first unextinquishable from the girls around him. However, as a puberty hit, and Kelerdios grew to quite traditional masculine form, his physique made such fashion quite awkward for a good while.
When Kelerdios inherited his mother's title, he understood the symbolic significance of his wardrobe and he was donsecrated to his position while wearing a replica of the same dress than his mother wore in her consecration. His first attempts of matron fashion left some to be desired, so he took upon himself to hire the best tailors in the task. And as the years went by, Kelerdios' style significantly improved.
To fit the expectations, Kelerdios started to wear hip paddings, skirt wiring, varied makeup techniques, and multiple accessories with innovative dress cuts to achieve more femine appearance, while complimenting his physique. His unique style was found very influential by both men and women alike, and his fashion choices were soon imitated, especially by younger nobility. His fashion enhancements seemed to solve some problems that more insecure women had with their bodies and gave those proud of their own figure further emphasise their shape.
During Kelerdios' life time, elaborate decorative pauldrons also rose in popularity. This has been speculated to be partially inspired by Kelerdios and his wider, more muscular shoulders.
Social
Family Ties
Kelerdios was a son of Khal'thrine Shadowblade and her husband Mag'zarasan. He had four sisters, Usvatyrr, Alyraum, Janeylae & Laryanna, whom all had died before his birth. Kelerdios shared a close relationship with his mother.
His first wife was Vestnara Shadowblade, his cousin who he had 2 daughters with; Choarae and Xurniara, first which he was particularly close with. Kelerdios was devastated of his wife's death, and he held her a grand funeral.
Later in life he married Xineirith Bonebreath, whom he had 4 children with: Sinaerie, Telanaeth, and Vlondra, and Sharlenti. Very little records remain on the nature of this relationship, but pair were together until Kelerdios' death.
Some speculate that Kelerdios might have sired children anomously to multiple women as a political move, however no conclusive evidence of this exists.
Relationships
This is so detailed and interesting - I love that he was such a radical figure in drow culture, and I particularly loved all the discussion about his fashion and how it influenced others.